Pires was sad for a few days. His first relationship was over. He moped around school. He did not talk much.
Brain saw this and did not like it.
Stop being sad, Brain told him. Anna was just one girl. There are many more.
But I liked her, Pires said.
You liked having a girlfriend, Brain corrected him. Now we will find you a new one. A better one.
Pires was not sure. But he trusted Brain. Brain knew about these things.
Brain had a new plan. He pointed out a girl named Chloe. Chloe was pretty and popular. She was in the school play.
She is perfect for you, Brain said. She will make Anna jealous.
Pires looked at Chloe. She seemed nice. But she also seemed busy. She always walked with friends.
How do I talk to her? Pires asked.
Same way as before, Brain said. But this time, be more confident. You are not a beginner anymore.
The next day, Pires saw Chloe at her locker. His heart beat fast. But he remembered Brain's words. He was not a beginner.
He walked up to her. Hi Chloe, he said. I saw you in the school play. You were really good.
Chloe turned and smiled. Thank you! That's sweet of you to say.
They talked for a minute about the play. Pires asked questions. He remembered his training.
Then Chloe's friends came. She said goodbye and walked away with them.
Pires walked back to Brain.
Good start, Brain said. Now we keep trying. You will ask her to hang out soon.
Pires nodded. He felt a little better. The sadness about Anna was still there. But having a new goal helped.
He did not see Anna watching from down the hall. She saw him talking to Chloe. She looked hurt. Then she turned and walked away.
Pires was moving on. But he was leaving pieces of himself behind. The boy who cared about Anna's feelings was fading. A new boy was taking his place. A boy who saw girls as targets. Not as people.Pires was sad for a few days. His first relationship was over. He moped around school. He did not talk much.
Brain saw this and did not like it.
Stop being sad, Brain told him. Anna was just one girl. There are many more.
But I liked her, Pires said.
You liked having a girlfriend, Brain corrected him. Now we will find you a new one. A better one.
Pires was not sure. But he trusted Brain. Brain knew about these things.
Brain had a new plan. He pointed out a girl named Chloe. Chloe was pretty and popular. She was in the school play.
She is perfect for you, Brain said. She will make Anna jealous.
Pires looked at Chloe. She seemed nice. But she also seemed busy. She always walked with friends.
How do I talk to her? Pires asked.
Same way as before, Brain said. But this time, be more confident. You are not a beginner anymore.
The next day, Pires saw Chloe at her locker. His heart beat fast. But he remembered Brain's words. He was not a beginner.
He walked up to her. Hi Chloe, he said. I saw you in the school play. You were really good.
Chloe turned and smiled. Thank you! That's sweet of you to say.
They talked for a minute about the play. Pires asked questions. He remembered his training.
Then Chloe's friends came. She said goodbye and walked away with them.
Pires walked back to Brain.
Good start, Brain said. Now we keep trying. You will ask her to hang out soon.
Pires nodded. He felt a little better. The sadness about Anna was still there. But having a new goal helped.
He did not see Anna watching from down the hall. She saw him talking to Chloe. She looked hurt. Then she turned and walked away.
Pires was moving on. But he was leaving pieces of himself behind. The boy who cared about Anna's feelings was fading. A new boy was taking his place. A boy who saw girls as targets. Not as people.